A federal prisoner serving time in New York has advanced from the primary election for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat, a development that is likely to trigger a legal challenge.
Eric Hafner, a registered Democrat, secured a spot on the general election ballot for the November election. He pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges of making threats against police officers, judges and others and is scheduled for release in 2036. Hafner also ran for the seat in 2024 and previously advanced to the general election ballot despite a challenge from the Alaska Democratic Party.
Under Alaska's election system, the top four primary finishers advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. Hafner received 5,757 votes after 93% of ballots were counted, placing him behind the third-place candidate, Democrat Matt Schultz. However, Schultz had withdrawn from the general election and was ineligible to advance.
Hafner's campaign filings list a mailing address in Box Elder, South Dakota, and a New York phone number that he shares with his mother, Carol Hafner. Neither has any apparent ties to Alaska, according to reports. Carol Hafner, who also ran unsuccessfully in the state's U.S. Senate primary this year, shares the same South Dakota address and New York phone number.
The U.S. Constitution requires candidates to reside in the state they intend to represent. Hafner's advancement to the general election ballot is expected to prompt legal scrutiny based on this requirement.
The leading candidates in the race for Alaska's U.S. House seat are the incumbent Republican Rep. Nick Begich and independent Bill Hill, a commercial fisherman and retired educator. The fourth-place finisher in the primary remained too early to call as vote counts were still being finalized.